St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-08
THE sECRETARY's REPORT.

est TO the general pubic.
THE sECRETARY's REPORT.
Answer to ChargeS-Strength of
the Order-ImpOrtant Sugges-
tiOns.
General Secretary Litchman pre-
sented his report yesterday morning.
and, as usual, it is a bulky and meaty
document. 1t begins with the affairs of
the Office and the system he has put in
vogue, which has not yet been fully
completed. He advocated an amend
ment to the constitution, giving him
power to employ and discharge his own
clerks, and thus, getting complete con-
troll of the department, be held fully
responsible. At considerable length he
told of the trials, criticisms and unjust
charges to which he had been subjected
and which really made his responsible
office perfect hell. Very earnestly he
advocated the adoption of thorough
business principles in his office, and
was sure of satisfactory and business
results. He was glad he could now face
the general assembly, and by refuting
all accusations there, philOsOphically
bear the charges made by outsiders. AS
to the system in vogue in his office, he
Celebrates it thoroughly. showing the
vast amount of correspondence in a
year, running upward OF 10000 letters
received and answered. Of the method
of conducting the official paper he says:
Communications for publication in the
journal are referred to the editorial depart
ment, where they are compiled, condensed
and arranged. This correspondence includes
notices of expulsion sent by local assemblies.
My experience i'll connection with these leads
me to believe that some explanatory legisla-
ton is needed by which local assemblies will
be Informed for what offenses and in what
manner members may be expelled from the
order. Since the journal has been public
publicatlon-that is, sold to those not mem
bers of the ORDER as well as to members-I
have been in doubt as to the prudence of
publishing therein the eXpulsions sent by the
assemblies from time to time. did not care
to assume the personal risk of suit for libel.
which, in more than one case was threatened
if'a publication was made in the Journal of
the LANES of those alleged to have been eX-
PEELED for cause. A large number of eXpul-
sions for non-payment of dues has been sent.
do not believe that member should be ex-
PEELED for non-payment of dues. The law is
not clear upon this point, and it should be
made clear by action of this general assem-
bly,. In this connection it may be well
enough to mention that numerous requests
have been made for the insertion of boycott
notices in the Journal. In some of the states
the laws are very severe against conspiracy
and boycotting. Ihave declined to expose
myself to "a suit for libel or conspiracy by
publishing these notices, unless ordered so to
do by the general executive board, and I'M
less the notice published was prepared by
said board and not by me. While | would be
willing, for the good of the order. to suffer
imprisoiimentjf.a ecessary, felt that was
not called upon @toerun the risk unless the
action of the general executive board sane
toned whatever publication l made, and
thereby pledged said board to defend me in
case of prosecution.
STRENGTH OF THE ORDER.
The number of members reported in good
standing at the last session of the general
assembly was TOP, 924. and the number Of
members in arrears, 26, 753. This made the
apparent membership of the order, as then
reported, 729,6S7. The tremendous growth
in the early part OF 1886 will be remembered.
People came into the order by the hundred
thousand. so that suspension of limitations
for forty days was ordered. After this forty
days had expired the rush again commenced
and the result was to bring to the organiza-
ton mass of material that proved itself to
be weakness rather then strength. None
OF this material could be eliminated until
after the reports for July had been made.
The tables which will accompany this report,
when compiled, will show the large falling
off of membership between July 1 and Oct
l, 1886. For the six months following the
session of the general assembly at Richmond
the papers OF the country have been filed
continually with assaults upon the order,
possibly done to disintegrate and destroy the
order. Yet in spite of all this opposition the
total number of members reported in good
standing July l is, in round numbers, 1885,
OOO Add to this the nearly 10000 who are
in the same relation to the order as were the
%, 753 reported as in arrears upon the last
report, and we would have the membership
of the order $50, 900 July l, 1887. This
would indicate an apparent decrease of
about 195, 900 members. But then the fact
should be borne in mind from July1 to Oct
l, 1885, that there was marked decrease in
membership. The quarterly reports for Oct
l, 1887, will show an increase in member
ship. because to the $50, 900 named will be
added the increase from limitations and rein
statements and the membership gained from
new assemblies organized between July 1
and Oct. 1, 1887.
Considerable space is consumed in
the matter of suspensions of assemblies,
but as the names and numbers are sup
pressed they are of no general public
interest. He recommends having the
official paper as it now is, until the way
is clear for a daily payer. The total re-
ceipts for the year were s50S,647.75.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.
That the subject of establishing cO-oper-
alive savings association be considered by
the committee on the state of the order. and
if it is deemed advisable, the proper author
ity be given to secure an act of incorporation
for the organization and management of such
| an institution. The primary object of this
will be to establish a home for the order in
| every town or city where the order exists
| Nothing will give such permanence to an or
| ganizatiOn as the fultillment of this PLAN
| Under the building associations of Philadel.
| phia thousands of people in humble circum-
stances have been able to secure a home.
! Branches may be established in each state,
| and gradually the power of the order can be
! brought to bear in the various divisions of
| cooperative production, distribution con-
sumption and saving. That the general sec
Rotary have entire control of his office force
| That state assemblies be made compulsory
instead of permissive. That the general sec
| rotary be authorized to prepare copies of the
| declaration of Independence in a shape
suitable for framing. That the proper COM
mittee consider the demand for some sort OF
regalia for members of the order and badges
to be worn at funerals. That there be legis-
ton which will make more stringent the pro-
| hibition of the use of the name of the order
or any of its symbols for business purposes.
| the general assembly would be justl-
fed in passing law placing an eff
fectual boycott or every article upon
symbols were used without the sanction of
| the general executive board" There are a
| number of minor recommendations covering
| proposed changes in the orders work which
| are of no interest to the general public. This
is worthy of note: "a great deal of COM
| plant has been made to the general Office in
| relation to embeZZlement of funds by local
| officers who subsequently absconded and
thus cannot be notified of pending charges
/ recommend that 1t be stated in the constitu-
ton that notice of trial be sent to the last
known address of the absconding officer
shall be considered a legal summons, and
| that if the absconder fails to appear at the
| time of trial, either in person or by counsel,
the trial may legally proceed III his absence
| the same as though he was present.. To cover
every contingency, it might be provided that
| counsel in his defense should be assigned by
| the assembly, whose duty it should be to pro-
| tect the rights and privileges of the accused
| absconder to the best of his ability"
| THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
The general assembly at Richmond. after
| adopting certain amendments to the consti-